Welcome to the latest edition of Location Watch, a regular series here on Arcade Heroes that covers the news of brand new arcade locations which have opened anywhere on the planet. That has the caveat of only being locations that we hear about, but thanks to various readers, and other arcade news sites like RePlay Magazine and InterGame Online, we do our best at keeping this comprehensive.
Our last Location Watch post came in way back at the end of March; read that here if you missed out on it. We usually like to get these out sooner, but openings seemed a little slow in April, and then the first half of this month was dominated by prepping for and covering the two big shows that happened (EVO Japan and AAA), so that and a few other things stacked up. Anyways, onto the new locations:
North America
Gamecenter Arcade (Kent, WA)
Zero points for naming originality or logic on this first one, given that it essentially means “arcade arcade”, but it’s always good to see another independent Japanese import location pop up. Also, to be fair, several of the other locations mentioned today also won’t win those points. Coming to Washington from the folks at 100 Yen Life, who have supplied US convention arcades for some time, this is their first foray into a permanent freeplay admission-based venue. They have quite the cool collection, with a strong focus on rhythm games and candy cabs as usual for a location of their type; we wish them luck!
Anastasia Island’s Arcade Museum (St. Augustine, FL)
We don’t normally include relocations up in the main gamut of the post, but this one is a special exception due to their museum status. This venue closed back in November of last year, and has moved into a new, larger location that also allows them to serve food & drink. They have over 80 games, and while focused on classics (including EM games from the 1960s & 70s), do bend that rule for pinball as most classic gaming venues do, so you can find several newer Stern machines around to enjoy. Here’s their Facebook page.
The Arcade On Detroit (Lakewood, OH)
I’m guessing the name for this one was to avoid being “Detroit Arcade” when they aren’t in Michigan, but also speaking of food & drink, here’s a new arcade bar that has opened with “an assortment of classic and modern arcade games, pinball machines, Skee-Ball, billiards and tabletop games like shuffleboard and foosball”. From the photos in this article, I’m not picking out too many ‘modern’ games aside from a newer pinball (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and crane, but there might be more they didn’t show.
Game On (Eureka, CA)
Over on the other side of the country is a type of venue that we don’t report on very often – a new laser tag arena. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of a laser tag place that doesn’t have games in their waiting area, and while Game On does mention an arcade under their services, this photo is the only thing I can find that shows what is included. The name at least makes it sound like it plays a bigger role than usual though.
Freeplay Bar Arcade #3 (Taunton, MA)
The third location for this chain just opened their doors in the city of Taunton, so if you live nearby, they’ve got classic games and drinks. This business model tends to make more money off of the drinks, but they have a great selection of games that should certainly appeal to people who might be hesitant about the entry fee (including ten rhythm games, which is a little bit of a surprise as not all barcades bother).
PixelJoy (Coralville, IA)
This one is a mall arcade in a chain of several, which we haven’t mentioned in these posts before. There is a strong focus on cranes, but aside from those and redemption, they do have some videos on hand. Those appear to just be Dead Heat, Transformers: Human Alliance DX, and Winter X Games Snocross, as well as a Pac-Man air hockey table at the center. They have a lot of open space besides it, so assuming that what they start with does well, they can add plenty of games into the room over time. Facebook link.
GameStar Arcade (Durland, IL)
In the next state over from where PixelJoy is (although Durland is almost in Wisconsin), GameStar Arcade just opened with what looks to be almost an FEC. They have the most “modern” mix out of the arcades that we’ve covered up to this point, with a mix of video, redemption, cranes, and even slots (which is always little strange to see in any arcade outside of Vegas, but IL gambling laws have loosened up in recent years). They also have a golf simulator, along with food & drink. Their video mix is mostly Raw Thrills, with Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR being most of note (it’s getting very widespread now). Visit their website.
Level Up by Bandai Namco (Anaheim, CA)
Even though Bandai Namco’s US arcade operations were sold off a few years back, that hasn’t stopped the desire within the company to operate locations here. These have taken a variety of forms, as there is no exact pattern they seem to follow, although BN do always drop in their arcade machines (or merchandizing). One of the new formats they’ve tried has been Level Up, which started last year with the unusual choice of opening in the BMO Stadium, and is continuing with another at the Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Within this spot, they’ve got a giant Pac-Man statue, a bunch of Gashapon, and several Pac-Man games (Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship DX, a few Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash cabs, World’s Largest Pac-Man). I’m a little surprised that they don’t have the Pac-Man Street Series on hand too, but that might be due to needing to police that kind of game a bit more (so people don’t walk off with the balls/pucks/etc).
FEC Openings & Updates
Dave & Busters Lands In Freehold, NJ – As well as that video, S1ckH4nds sent a ton of photos in the AH Discord server, since more than any other new D&B opening of late they came packed with new games.
D&B Also Opens In Ala Molana, HI + Lansing, MI – On the Hawaii location, the link at Replay wasn’t working, so linking to a story from February; on the Lansing location, that was from when Hot Wheels Victory Lap still wasn’t up and running.
Elev8 Fun Opens 3rd Location In Jensen Beach, FL – This one was announced quite a while ago
Infinity Fun Opens In Watertown, SD
Surge Entertainment Opens Location #6 In Metairie, LA
Gemu Arcade Opens In Detroit, MI – Interactive playground and a “clawcade” where it doesn’t sound like they have video games, but are focused exclusively on cranes for their game room
Bowlero Queens Officially Rebrands As Lucky Strike Queens
Velocity Esports Files For Bankruptcy After Closing Schaumburg Location – These were both ex-Gameworks sites that shut in late 2021. A shame that they couldn’t make them work again
Europe
Sega Prize Zone (Wolverhampton, England)
Sega Prize Zone locations have been popping up at Superbowl UK locations across the country for a while now, but not all of them can claim to be opening in a place with previous Sega heritage like this. As per Ted, Wolverhampton once had one of the original Sega World arcades that opened during the 90s, at another, now non-existent bowling alley in the city. That place apparently had such delights as the R360 and eight player Daytona, so you’d be forgiven for thinking this new one’s more redemption-heavy lineup isn’t as impressive (there aren’t even really any shooters at this one, unless you count Men In Black). Still, from the looks of this video there are at least some shiny new Apex Rebels cabinets right out front.
Continue Arcades #2 (Taunton, England)
This one suddenly launched just days after the previous Location Watch was published at the end of March, so apologies for the lateness of it. Burgeoning freeplay arcade chains continue to pop up, as the UK’s Continue Arcades have a second location after only starting out in Plymouth last year (you may remember the mention they got). Taunton keeps them locked to the South West of England, but not as far down the coast. In terms of the games it’s generally another mix of newer experiences, bizarrely enough including another Lethal Lawns by LAI like one of the locations mentioned last time did…
Gamestate (Berlin, Germany & Nordburg, Denmark)
Ahead of reopening the legendary Circus Vandoort venue this Summer, Gamestate are pushing ahead with expansion, launching their largest location yet in Berlin, Germany and a smaller one as their first in Denmark, Scandinavia. That latter one also marks the start of their collaborations with Center Parcs, a big franchise of holiday villages in Europe. As such, only patrons of those can access it, but those that do can find the likes of Super Bikes 3, Bigfoot Crush, and Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games 2020, as well as assorted redemption. Plus, surprisingly enough, a Legends of Valhalla from American Pinball:
Playtopia Arcade (Paphos, Cyprus)
Courtesy of longtime AH reader Kieran M. in our Facebook group, he shared this recently-opened new arcade found on the Mediterranean island country of Cyprus, where he has been holidaying of late. This one quietly launched this past month with little to no online fanfare, so there is only his word to go off of, but it sounds like it still hasn’t got all its games just yet. That would account for there being not too many, and those that are there being only older, late 2000s examples (albeit good ones – Sega Rally 3, Deadstorm Pirates, and Harley Davidson King of the Road). Check out the brief video tour here.
FEC Openings & Updates
The Light Opens New Huddersfield, UK Location With Another Sega Amusements-Furnished Arcade – This one seems to have all the shooting games that Sega Prize Zone didn’t (e.g. HOTD Scarlet Dawn, Let’s Go Island), as well as Apex again
Bandai Namco Amusement Europe Launches Arcade Allies Blogposts With The Pavilion, Bromley
Genda Opens First Two Europe Mini Locations In London – Teased for a long time, and the first appearance of the GiGO brand out West, but only cranes…
Freeplay Gaming Arcade Closes In Portland, UK – We normally don’t cover closures here, but this one is a little bit frustrating to see, because it got an amount of media exposure that successful arcade operators could only dream of seeing.
I don’t say all of this following small rant to kick the owner while he’s down, but it’s rather frustrating for those of us who have made an arcade venue work for years to get entirely overshadowed by someone who couldn’t even make it six months. I get it in the sense that we as people glom onto negative news while ignoring most good news (and sites being desperate for clicks have a lot to answer for too), but still, I guarantee that no one else that we cover in this post is going to get a quarter of the coverage that this closing arcade in the UK has received this past week. If they did, then you could bet that public sentiment on the existence of arcades in general would change rather quickly.
It almost makes me want to pull the old furniture store “going out of business” trick to just garner enough attention to boost sales…
I did a video sort of covering this, but I would add the following free advice to anyone looking to operate a freeplay arcade, to avoid the problems of a quick closure: don’t start such an arcade with anything less than 40 games (this place only had 18); offer some other attractions such as food or sports games or a PC LAN or something else to help keep people around; consider some new equipment that you can still charge per game for (most freeplay venues that have pinball or skeeball still charge for those games); be willing to adjust your business model if things are really not working out, and open somewhere that can be accessed easily or can get decent footfall (harder than ever these days, but still). I am sorry to see anyone have to close, but this could be avoided through better business practices and people clicking more on stories about openings rather than closings. Doomy headlines have a lot to answer for… anyways, back to new places.
Asia/Middle East/Oceania
Exbar Tokyo Plus (Akihabara, Japan)
Taito have been dabbling with arcade bars under the Exbar name in Japan for a little while now, and they have just done a big opening of a new one in Akihabara, where they already have a few locations. Located adjacent to the Taito Station in Akihabara Station, it is apparently their third Exbar joint, following Shinjuku’s and Canal City Hakata’s. This tweet from one of the main Taito developers still hanging in there shows they are a little light on games, focusing more on the bar and goods shop, but do have a Ice Cold Beer and Super Mario Bros Mushroom World pinball, among other draws like Sega Japan’s Dartslive units.
GiGO (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam & Tokyo, Japan)
Whilst their new small European locations may be disappointing, GiGO are opening more expansive locations in Asia still, such as this renewed one in Tokyo or their latest to grace Vietnam. The press release on it shows a focus on much more than cranes, including the neat Taiko and Wacky Gators kiddie rides out front, but also Maimai DX and Pump It Up for the rhythm gamers in a nicely neon-adorned corner.
FEC Openings & Updates
Legendary Fighting Game Arcade Nakano TRF Closes, But Will Reopen Soon – Good news, especially seeing as they only recently got some exA units in for testing their new games
Dave & Busters Sets Sights On The Philippines – With as many TimeZones as there are over there now, it may be difficult to crack that market, but best of luck to D&Bs…
FunXtreme Opens In Kolkata, India
REBOUND Lands In Bangalore, India
Masti Zone Opens A Big Location In Noida, India
Are any of these new arcades near you? Then be sure to go out and visit them! Doors can’t stay open on the basis of likes and hashtags.
Coming Soon
Pirates Cove FEC To Open In Havre De Grace, MD This July
Field Day Coming To Huntsman, AL
Astro Fun World Opening In Battle Creek, MI This Summer
A Main Event Will Open In Taylor, MI This August
Score Entertainment Is Converting More Sears Locations Into FECs In Texas
Another Main Event Will Open In Mesquite, TX, But No Date Given – This is a little interesting given that it was Mesquite that tried to ban Aladdin’s Castle back in 1982 or so, and the issue made it all the way to the Supreme Court.
Cats Alley Opening This June In Decatur, TX
Round1USA Comes To Houston, TX
Bowl Central #3 For Reading, UK
Alan-1 Has Begun Prepping The Hangar To Become A Public Arcade In Tooele, UT – Not sure when it will be ready as the building and the collection needs a bit of work, but they have told me that they are actively working on it, having come up with a game list (what they will keep and what they won’t). You can see what the collection currently looks like, here.
